While Osamu Tezuka is generally known for his light-hearted works, he has written many serious and mature stories as well. A good example is The Book of Human Insects, a mystery-thriller featuring a strange woman named Toshiko Tomura, who seems to be able to steal the talent of others.
This work is another example of Osamu Tezuka's ability to write compelling, mature stories. Message to Adolf follows the lives of three different men named Adolf during the tumultuous era of World War II.
Metropolis is one of Osamu Tezuka's earliest works, having been released in 1949. It was a bigger success than Tezuka expected, inspiring many to become mangaka. In 2001, it was turned into a feature-length animated movie.
Dororo is a dark fantasy story that follows the story of two characters, Hyakkimaru and Dororo. Hyakkimaru was born disfigured and limbless due to a pact that his father had made with demons in exchange for power. After receiving strange prosthetics and magical abilities, Hyakkimaru sets out to kill the demons in order to restore his body
Kimba the White Lion follows the adventures of Kimba, whose parents are killed and captured by hunters. Kimba's mother rescues him from the ship, and Kimba eventually returns to the jungle where his parents reigned, and resolves to become a ruler like his father.
Buddha is considered one of Osamu Tezuka's best works, and has won several awards. The manga is so popular that it is even used in actual Buddhist temples in order to teach young people about the Buddha's life.
Phoenix is definitely Osamu Tezuka's most ambitious work. Published erratically over many magazines between the years 1954 and 1988, the manga consists of a multitude of differing stories, each taking place in completely different eras with different characters.
Princess Knight is a very different story compared to Osamu Tezuka's usual works. The story features a young girl named Sapphire, who must pretend to be a prince in order to inherit the throne of Silverland.
Black Jack is one of Osamu Tezuka's most successful works and his second best-selling manga of all time. While the manga itself is quite beloved, the character of Black Jack himself has managed to transcend even that.
Astro Boy is one of the most successful manga and anime franchises in the world and has become Tezuka's most famous creation. The combined 23 tankobon volumes have sold over 100 million copies worldwide.